Device for orienting articles end for end



DEVICE FOR ORIENTING ARTICLES END FOR END 6 Sheet-Sheet 1 Original Filed Oct. 30, 1963 A. H. HABERSTUMP EVICE FOR ORIENTING ARTICLES END FOR END Nov. 22, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Oct. 30, 1965 INVENTOR.

/ BY j g/QM,

22, 1966 A. H. HABERSTUMP 3,286,881

DEVICE FOR ORIENTING ARTICLES END FOR END Original Filed Oct. 50, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 a? V E E INVENTOR.

Nov. 22, 1. A. H. HABERSTUMP 3,286,881

DEVICE FOR ORIENTING ARTICLES END FOR END Original Filed Oct. 30, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 3 /1/*- l 4 -1 av t F. E J 7" E-QLEL E /i/ INVENTOR. g #779196 A. #42 0752 2727 Nov. 22, 1966 A. H. HABERSTUMP 3,286,881

DEVICE FOR OHIENTING ARTICLES END FOR END Original Filed Oct. 50, 1963 6 he t 5 1966 A. H. HABERSTUMP 3,236,831

DEVICE FOR ORIENTING ARTICLES END FOP. END

Original Filed Oct. 50, 1963 6 sheet -sheet 6 i/ f f w my Z v i d U y u w w i I M Z a flfl a zzjw w v m 7 Hum J 4 14 I H V #4 l w? M i v 5 5 M E 4 1 v 1 f f n i .E E. mun! E 2 i'illii United States Patent 3,286,881 DEVICE FOR ORIENTING ARTICLES END FOR END Alfred H. Haberstump, Detroit, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Clyde Corporation, Troy, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Continuation of application Ser. No. 321,387, Oct. 30, 1963. This application Oct. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 502,816 27 Claims. (Cl. 221-173) This application is a continuation of application Serial No. 321,387 filed Oct. 30, 1963, entitled, Orienting Device, said continuation, in turn, being a continuationin-part of application Serial No. 53,439 filed Sept. 1, 1960, entitled, Orienting Device, now abandoned.

This invention relates to sorting and delivery devices and particularly to a device which sorts and delivers articles with the end to be forward always in advanced position.

No difficulty has been experienced in the past when sorting and delivering rivets, nails, screws, and like elements having a head on one end which is supported to have the opposite end disposed forwardly when delivered. Variously shaped elements could likewise be oriented on the collecting rail in a predetermined manner through the shape of the. rail and the size of the opening in a gate through which the elements are delivered. When an article to be delivered has substantially a uniform diameter and cross section and differs only by having recessed portions at one end, difiiculty has always been experienced when attempting to properly orient the elements before being delivered from a sorting device.

The present invention has for 'its main object the orientation of articles having a body of uniform cross section and a reduced or recessed end which is checked for end for end orientation before being delivered from the end of a sorting device. The device has a turntable which attempts to revolve 180 each time an article is delivered thereto; and when improperly positioned, the article is turned end for end by the turntable. A clutch is mounted on the drive means for the turntable which permits the drive of the turntable to slip and be ineffective when the element on the turntable is properly oriented. If the element is not properly oriented, the turntable will revolve 180, reversing the article end for end so that it will be in proper oriented position for delivery. The turntable has associated therewith stop elements by which the positions of the articles are controlled in their travel toward and from the turntable. A hydraulic ram or other reciprocating device is employed for operating a rack and pinion for rotating the clutch and for advancing cam means for operating the stop elements which control the advancement of the articles and the delivery of a single article to the turntable and therefrom each time the reciprocating device is actuated.

Further objects of the invention are: to provide reciprocating means for rotating the clutch which drives the turntable 180 in rotation; to provide an annular slot in the wall of the track adjacent to the turntable through which the rear end of the article will pass permitting the turntable to revolve 180 and advance the rear end to forward position; to provide plungers having fingers which are moved into the slot 'in which the articles are advanced for controlling the delivery of the articles seriatim to and from the turntable by cam means driven by the power means which rotates the turntable; and, in general, to provide a sorting and delivering device for articles in proper forward end oriented position which is simple in construction, positive in operation, and economical of manufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty of the invention 3,286,881 Patented Nov. 22, 1966 will be specifically pointed out or will become apparent, when referring, for a better understanding of the invention, to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a broken sectional view in elevation of a delivering and driving device embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken on the line 22 thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken on the line 3-3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is -a broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 2, taken on the line 4--4 thereof;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged broken sectional View of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken on the line 55 thereof;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken on the line 66 thereof;

FIG. 7 is a broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 6, taken on the line 7--7 thereof;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged broken view of structure similar to that illustrated in FIG. 2, showing a different article to be oriented;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 8, taken on the line 99 thereof;

FIG. 10 is a view of structure similar to that illustrated in FIG. 8, showing a different article to be oriented;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 10, taken on the line 11-11 thereof;

FIG. 12 is a view of structure similar to that illustrated in FIG. 8, showing a different article to be oriented;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 12, taken on the line 13-13 thereof;

FIG. 14 is a sectional View of the structure illustrated in FIG. 13, taken on the line 1414 thereof;

FIG. 15 is a view of structure similarto that illustrated in FIG. 8, showing a still different article which is to be oriented;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 15, taken on the line 16-16 thereof;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 15, taken on the line 1717 thereof;

FIG. 18 is a view in elevation of a delivering and driving device showing another form of the invention;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged plan view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a reduced bottom view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a right-hand end view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 19 with a part in section;

FIG. 22 is a broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 19, taken on the line 2222 thereof;

FIG. 23 is a broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 19, taken on the line 2323 thereof;

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary plan view showing another form of the invention;

FIG. 25 is a fragmentary plan view showing a still further form of the invention; and

FIGS. 26, 27, and 28 illustrate embodiments of articles which are to be checked by the device of the present invention.

Referring more specifically to FIGS. 1-7 inclusive, a delivering and sorting device is illustrated for articles which are sorted in a hopper 20 of any type but which is herein illustrated as being of the type embodying the invention set forth in the patent to A. H. Haberstump, No. 2,943,764, issued July 5, 1960. The articles are collected on a track 21 through the oscillation of the hopper and delivered to a track 22 having an upwardly presenting channel-shaped slot 23 therein. The articl 24, as illustrated more clearly in FIG. 2, has a cylindrical body 25, a forwardly extending plunger 26, and an annular recess forming a head 27 on the opposite end of A slightly less diameter than the body. When it is desired to have the articles delivered from the track with their heads 27 disposed forwardly, certain of the articles must be reversed end for end, as is evident from examining the end-to-end position of the articles in the channel slot 23 of FIG. 2. A turntable 28 is disposed within the length of track 22 with its channel portion 29 in alignment with the channel portions 23 of the track. A plunger 31 has a finger 32 disposed within the channel portion 23 for the purpose of interrupting the advancement of the articles 24 into the turntable 28 until after the article in the slot in the turntable has been permitted to move therefrom. The article in the turntable is prevented from moving therefrom by a finger 34 on a plunger 35 which, when extending across the slot 23, accurately locates an article in the slot 29 of the turntable. A third plunger 36 has a finger 37 in position to be advanced into the slot 23 of the track 22 to maintain a single article therein for advancement onto the turntable when the article on the turntable has been moved therefrom. Each 4 slippage will occur between the conical surfaces 68 and 73, and the rotation of the :turntable will not occur;

Should the blocking of the turntable clamp the article.

therein and prevent it from moving therefrom, a release mechanism is provided which returns the turntable into alignment with the track. Near the end of thestroke of the rack 52, the end of the rack engages a head 78 of an adjustable screw 79 which is locked in adjusted position by a nut 81 to a bell crank lever 83. i The movement of the bell crank lever clockwise swings portion 85 thereof and the finger 87 thereon upwardly to engage an extension 88 of the pin 72 to have it strike a pin 89 and position the slot 29 of the turntable in accurate alignment with the slot 23 of the track 22 and thereby release an article if clamped between the walls of the slot in the:

turntable and the track.

The advancement of the rack also advances the stepped supporting element 51 and the leaf spring cam 55,:which moves forwardly therewith. Such movement moves the of the plungers has a spring 38 for urging the finger outpin 45 has an arm 46 welded or otherwise secured thereto in a manner to reciprocate a stepped carriage 51 in a slot 60 formed by a flanged bar 47 with the body 43 by the forward and rearward movement of the piston rod 40 and the arm 46. The plungers 31, 35, and 36 extend through a plate 48 which is secured to the side of the body member 43 by screws 49. A rack 52 is supported at itslower end by the carriage 51,being secured thereto by screws 53. A spacer plate 54 is secured at the upper end of the carriage 51 against a leaf spring cam 55 which is clamped thereby to the carriage for movement therewith.

The body member 43 has a cylindrical opening 56 in which a cylindrical head 57 is mounted and provided with diametrically disposed chordal faces 58 in mating relation with adjacent ends of the track 22 which are in abutting relation therewith. A central aperture 50 in the head 57 receives the turntable 28, the turntable having a stem 59 extending from the bottom thereof. A shoulder 61 between the turntable 28 and the stem 59 rests upon roller bearings 62 and 63 spaced by a collar 64 and retained within an aperture which extends upwardly from the bottom of the head 57 by a split ring 65. A washer 66 on the stem 59 spaces a freely rotatable gear 67 thereon from the bearing 63, the gear having a truncated conical surface 68 at the bottom thereof. A bushing 69 has a slot 71 atthe bottom which receives a pin 72 which extends through the stem 59 permitting the bushing to be spring loaded axially thereof. The bushing 69 has a conical surface 73 which mates with the conical surface 68 in frictional driving relation thereto. A coil spring 74 beneath the bushing 69 urges the bushing upwardly with a predetermined force when the bottom end of the spring is supported by a washer 75. The washer is retained in position by a split ring 76 which rests within an annular-groove 77 near the end of the stem 59.- The slot 71 permits the spring to move the bushing upwardly to maintain a frictional engagement between the conical surfaces 68 and 73.

When the rack 52 is advanced longitudinally, the gear 67 is rotated and a friction drive is established through the engaged conical surfaces 68 and 73 to rotate the stem 59 and the turntable 28 if the article resting in the slot 29 thereof provides no restraint against rotation. If the article is correctly disposed within the track when advanced into the slot 29 of the turntable 28, the rotation of the turntable is blocked; and as the rack advances,

plunger 36 inwardly to have its finger 37 extend within the slot 23 of the track 22 while the plungers 31 and 35 are retracted by the springs 38 to thereby withdrawthe fingers 32 and 34 from the slot 23. This permitsa properly oriented article 24 to pass from the turntable 28 and another article 24 to advance beyond the finger 32 into engagement with the finger 37.

Upon return movement of piston rod 40, bell crank 83 is freed for retraction counterclockwise by a spring 84 anchored to a stud 86 to remove finger 87 from the path of movement of pin extension 88. Pinextenand 73. During thereturn movement, the plungers 31 and 35 are moved inwardly while the plunger 36 is moved outwardly to have the fingers 32, 37, and 34 disposed in the position illustrated in FIG. 2..

It was pointed out above that the articles 24 are to be delivered with the head 27 disposed forwardly, re-

quiring the article to be turned from, the position il-lustrated in FIG. 2. When the article 24 is advanced into the turntable with the plunger 26 disposed forwardly as illustrated, the turntable 28 is free to be rotated 180 when rack 52 .is advanced to the right, as FIG. 5 is: viewed. During this rotation, pin extension 88 aswings;

from engagement with pin 89 to engagement witha pin 91 which thereby aligns slot 29 with slot 23. of track 22;

When rack 52 is retracted, pin extension 88 returns to engagement with pin 89.

When an article 24 is properly disposed inturntable 28, rotation thereof along with pin extension 88 is facilitated by the following structure. 92 in the wall of the aperture .50,.as illustratedin FIGS. 2 and 4, will receive the plunger 26 and permit the turntable to rotate to dispose the head 27 tothe right end of the turntable so that it will advance first therefrom. The next adjacentarticle 24 to be advanced Within the turntable 28 is in correct position with its head 27 forward in engagementwith theflat: forward It is through the selection of the right size-aperture 92 conforming to the shape of the trailing end of the 6 article that determines whether or not the turntable will rotate each time an article and the rack are advanced. a

The article'may be delivered to any type of apparatus;

in FIGS. 1' and 6, one is shown delivered to a pair of jaws 94 which are mounted on pivots 95 and urged toward each other by springs 96. The article 24 is dropped from the track with the head 27atthe for-; ward end, where it is-supported by the pair of jaws ex- An annular slot tending from the end thereof. A ram 97 forces a sleeve 98 downwardly to carry a sleeve 99, the jaws 94, and the article 24 downwardly therewith. This advances the article 24 into an aperture in a workpiece 101 after which the movement of the sleeve 99 stops, and a rod 102 within the sleeves 98 and 99 continues to move downwardly. A plunger 103 on the end of the rod 102 engages the end of the article 24 at the time the plunger 104 strikes the sleeve 105 to move the sleeve 99 along therewith. The article 24 is advanced with the sleeve 99 and inserted into the aperture in the workpiece 101 as pointed out above. At this point, a nut 113 on the sleeve 99 strikes a stop collar 107 and the plunger 103 continues to advance due to the retraction of the plunger 104 forcing the article from the jaws farther into the aperture. Upon the retraction of the ram, the sleeves 98 and 99 and the rod 102 move upwardly as a unit due to the engagement of a plunger 104 with a head 105 on the sleeve 99. When a shoulder 106 engages a stop collar 107 on the supporting bracket 108, the sleeve 99 is stopped in its upward movement; and the sleeve 98 will continue to move upwardly with the ram, the plunger 104 separating from the collar 105 to move into the position illustrated in FIG. 1. Such a tool for advancing and setting an article forms no part of the present invention and will not be described further.

The sleeve 99 is prevented from rotating by a flat face 111 on a plate 109 which engages the fiat face 112 on the supporting bracket 108. The plate 109 is adjustable lengthwise of the sleeve 99 by a pair of nuts 113, the bottom one of which, as pointed out above, engages the stop collar 107 and limits the downward movement of the sleeve 99 and protects the ends of the jaws 94 from striking the workpiece .101.

In FIGS. 8-17 inclusive, difierent heads 57 are il lustrated, the heads being circular in form and having flat faces 58 which engage the flat face at the end of the tracks 22. In FIGS. 8 and 9, an article 115 is illustrated having a cylindrical body and a reduced cylindrical end 116 which is to be at the rear when the article is delivered from the track. The turntable 28 will be able to rotate because the stop finger 34 will position the reduced end portion 116 in alignment with an annular grove 117 in which it will pass during the turning movement. The turntable 28 will rotate 180 to position the large end of the article in the direction of delivery so as to be advanced from the turntable properly oriented when the finger 34 is retracted.

In FIGS. and 11, an article 117 is illustrated similar to the article 115 with the exception that the reduced end portion 118 has an enlarged head 119 thereon. An annular T-headed slot 121 is provided outwardly of the aperture 50 in position to receive the head 119 and reduced portion 118 when in forward position. The turntable 28 will rotate 180 when the rack is advanced and the article will be turned end for end to have the end which is a continuation of the body presented forwardly when the article is released by the finger 34.

In FIGS. 12, 13, and 14, a further form of article 122 is illustrated, having a uniform cylindrical body with a recesss 123 at one end. The article 122 is to be delivered with the aperture 123 at the forward end. A finger 124 is mounted on a rotatable shaft 125 which is moved downwardly to stop the advancement of the article 122 when released by the figure 37 of the plunger 36. A hook 126 on the end of the finger 124 has its end aligned with the Wall of the channel portion 29 so that if the blank end of the article is stopped thereby, the turnable 28 will be permitted to rotate 180". If the aperture 123 is received by the hook 126 as illustratedin FIG. 14, the forward end of the article 122 has advanced beyond the wall of the aperture 50 and the turntable 28 cannot rotate so that the article will be delivered with the apertured end in forward position. Suitable means, not herein illustrated, are provided for rotating the shaft to thereby move the finger 124 out of the slot 23 after the article 122 has been oriented, or attempted to be oriented, and to return the finger within the slot before the next article is delivered to the turntable.

In FIGS. L5, 16, and 17, an article 127 is illustrated as being square in cross section and having an extending boss 128 on its top face. The finger 34 stops the article 127 in position to be rotated in the turntable 28, which is prevented from turning when the boss is at the forward end in engagement with a stop finger 129 secured to the head 57 by a screw 131. If the boss is at the opposite end from that illustrated in FIG. 17, the counterclockwise rotation of the turntable 28 is permitted by the finger 129 and the boss 128 will be in the forward position when delivered. When the article 127 is in the positon illustrated in FIGS. 15, 16, and 17, the turntable 28 will not rotate because of the engagement of the boss 128 with the finger 129, as pointed out hereinabove.

Referring to FIGS. 18 to 23, a further form of the invention is illustrated embodying a base 132 having a slot 133 disposed in its upper face in extension of a tunnel portion 134 which communicates with a delivery tube 135. The forward portion of the base is secured to track elements 136 by such means as screws 138. Elements 136 define the sides of a track 137 whose bottom is provided by suitable means (not shown) and which communicates with slot 133. Articles to be sorted are delivered in end to end relation from the track 137 into the slot 133 where their advancement is interrupted by a spring pressed plunger 139 located within a sleeve 141 which is threaded or otherwise secured within a supporting block 142, the plunger spring being shown at (FIG. 22). The block is adjustably supported within a head 143 having a plunger 144 extending therefrom. Set screws 145 clamp the block 142 to the head. The position of plunger 139 can be adjusted longitudinally of slot 133 by loosening set screws 145, shifting block 142 to the desired position, and retightening the set screws. A spring 146 engages the head 143 and urges the plunger 144 outwardly of the head into the path of a cam block 147. When in inward position as illustrated in FIG. 22, the plunger 139 engages the body of an article and urges it against the side of the slot 133 and retains the articles within the slot from advancing beyond the plunger.

Adjacent the plunger 139 is a second spring-pressed plunger 139' which, similarly to plunger 139, is disposed within a sleeve threaded within a plunger body 148. The plunger body is urged outwardly by a spring 149 to move the plunger 139' from the slot 133. The longitudinal adjustment of the plunger 139 laterally toward and away from the plunger 139' is desirable so that different lengths of articles which are to be checked for end-for-end relationship may be released and advanced seriatim by the plunger 139. A plunger 'body 151 is disposed within the body 132 and is urged outwardly of an aperture 152 by a spring 153. As more specifically illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 23, the plunger body 151 has a slotted forward end in which a finger 154 is pivoted on a pin 155. The finger 154 extends through a slot 156 into the slot 133 of the body. The finger has a projecting end 157 extending within the slot within the path of advancement of an article which is to be checked. A spring 159 urges the finger 154 counterclockwise against one end of the slot 156 to a position for engagement with an article in a slot 159 of a turntable 161. When the turntable is rotated counterclockwise, the finger 154 is deflected out of its path against the pressure of the spring 159. The plunger 144 and the plunger bodies 148 and 151 are retained within the apertures in the base 132 by a plate 162 secured thereto by a plurality of screws 163. The plate has apertures therethrough through which the ends of the plunger and plunger bodies extend in position to be engaged by the cam faces of the cam block 147. The turntable is mounted on a shaft 164 which is secured within a pair of spaced bearings 165 in an aperture in the base 132 where they are secured by a locking ring 166. A collar 167 is secured to the shaft 164 by an extending pin 168 below which a gear 169 is supported for free rotation on the shaft 164.: A truncated conical surface 171 on the gear mates with a truncated conical surface 172 on a collar 173 secured to the shaft 164 by a pin 174. The pin extends through a slot 175 in the collar to permit the collar to move longitudinally on the shaft 164.. The collar is urged upwardly by a spring 176 secured on the shaft by a washer 177 and a locking ring 178. The spring 176 produces frictional engagement between the truncated conical surfaces 171 and 172 so that when the gear 169 is driven, the shaft 164 will be rotated if the turntable is not restricted.

A plate 179 is secured to the base 182 by screws 181, the underside of the plate having a recess therein which forms a slot 182 with the adjacent face of the base. An apertured boss 183 is secured to the top of the plate 179 by a screw 184. The boss supports a cylinder 185, a piston rod 187 of which is attached to a sheet metal carrige 186 by a pair of nuts 188. The cam block 147 is secured to one side of the carriage 186 by screws 189. The carriage 186 has a forwardly extending portion ,191 which is movable in the slot 182 and adjoined portions 192 and 193, the portion 193 having a rack 194 secured thereto by screws 195. The teeth of the rack are in engagement with the teeth of the gear 169; and when the piston rod 187 is advanced from the cylinder'185, the carriage 186 is moved therewith, advancing the cam block 147 and the rack 194. The cam block has a recessed surface 196 which permits the plunger 144 and the plunger bodies 148 and 151 to move outwardly of the plate 162. As illustrated in FIG. 19, the plunger 139' is retracted, permitting an article which was stopped in its advancement to pass further along the slot 133 into the slot 159 of the turntable 161. The plunger. 139 was in engagement with the adjacent article in the slot and permitted only the one to advance therealong. When longer articles are to be checked, the plunger 139 is spaced a greater distance from the plunger 139' so that the next adjacent article can be secured by the. plunger 139 when the article to be delivered contacts the plunger 139'.

It will 'be assumed that an article such as that shown at 214 in FIG. 28 is to be oriented with its open or right end forward. After the article is stopped within the turntable 161 by the projecting end 157 of the finger 154 and the piston is advanced from the .cylinder, the rack attarnpts to rotate the turntable 161. If the article is not properly oriented, the end 157 of the finger will engage its closed end, the article will be prevented from bridging slots 133 and 159, and the turntable will rotate and thereby change the end-to-end position of the article. If, however, the article is in properly oriented position, it will bridge the slots 133 and 159 and thereby prevent the turntable from being rotated by the rack. During the advancement and retraction of the cam block 147, the plunger 144 and the plunger bodies 148 and 151 are actuated, delivering the article from the turntable and advancing anarticle thereinto.

A bellcrank 197 is secured by a pivot 198 to'the base 132. This bellcrank functions similarly to bellcrank 83 (FIG. An end 199 of the bellcrank is disposed in the path of movement of the rack 194 which rocks the bellcrank 197 clockwise so that the other end 200 will engage the extending portion of the pin 168 and move it against a stop pin 201. When this occurs, the article which was clamped between the walls of the slots 133 and 159 is released,,permitting it to advance within the slot 133. Depending on whether the turntable was rotated by advancement of the rack, upon the reverse movement of the rack, the turntable either remains en- '8 gaged against pin 201 or is rotated with thepin 168 engaging a second stop 202 which aligns the slots 133 and 159. Each time the piston rod 187 is advanced from the cylinder 185, an article in the turntable is either rotated end-for-end or prevented from being ro tated. During this movement of the piston rod and the cam block 147, all of the articles are advanced, the one properly oriented in the turntable moving therefrom before another article is delivered thereto during the Ie-L turn movement of the piston.

In FIG. 24, a further form of the invention is illustrated wherein the base 132 has a bellcrank 203' secured thereon by a pivot 204. An arm 205 of the bellcrank is disposed in a position to be operated by a cam surface 206 on the cam block 147. An arm 207. of the bellcrank has a finger 208 pivoted thereto and urged counterclockwise thereon by a spring 209. The end of .the finger 208 has a sensing tip. 211 .which is capable of extending within a slot in a .screw 212, an aperture in set screw 213, or in the open end of a tubular element 214,?as illustrated in FIGS. 26, 27, and 28. When such articles are advanced into the slot 159 of the turntable 161, the sensing tip 211 permits the article to advance sufiiciently so as to bridge the :slots 133 and 159 and thereby prevent the turntable from turning.

A hardened block 215 is secured in an aperture in the base 132 to form the wall of the slot-adjacent to the turntable in position to be engaged by the article when the turntable is prevented from being rotated thereby.

Block 215 has a slot (not shown) configured to permit or obstruct endfor-end rotation of an article in the manner of slots 92 and 121, for example, in FIGS. 4 and 11 respectively. Thus, this form of the invention is also adapted for use with articles having a projection at one end such as articles 24, 115,and 117. The hardened material minimizes damage to the slot wall by an article locked against it by the turntable. An article locked against the block 215 is released at the end of the ad-. vancement of the rack 194 .by the operation of the bellcrank 197, aspointed out hereinabove.

Referring to FIG. 25, a further form of the invention is illustrated, wherein elongated articles 216 r with an aperture 217 at one end are checked for, end position of .the aperture or where elongated cups are to be checked to have the-open side faced in the same direction. A turntable 218 has the slot 159 therein in alignment with the slot 133 in the body 132. The articles are advanced seriatim into the slot 159 in the manner as pointed out hereinabove, the advancement being interrupted by a plunger 219 which stops the article in a positionso that it may be rotated with the turntable. A recess 221. may be provided in the side wall of the turntable to permit it to rotate when the plunger is in extended position. An arcuate finger 222 is secured to the turntable by a pivot 223 and is urged outwardly by a spring. 224 to retain a detent portion 225 of the finger within a cam notch 226 in the body 132. The free end of the finger 222 carries. a probe 227 which extends into the aperture 217 when the article is improperly oriented as the turntable is rotated. At the end of the rotation, the detent 225' moves into the body 132, thereby permitting the probe 1 227 tobe spring retracted from the aperture 217 and permitting the article 216 to move from the slot 159 when plunger 219 isj-retracted. This same operation occurs to a cuplike article when facing upwardly as FIG. 25 is viewed: End 227 extends within the cup so that the turntable may be rotated to have the closed side of the cup turned to the upward position. If a cup is advanced to the aperture 159 in the upward position or the article 216 is advanced with the aperture 217 to the left in the desired position, the probe 227 cannot be advanced and the detent 225, remains locked in the. notch 226; and the turntable will not be rotatedwhen the rack is advanced. The advancement and release of the articles 216 or the cup-shaped or similar articles and 9 the rotation of the turntable employs the same mechanism as illustrated in the structure of FIGS. 1 to 23 inclusive.

All of the articles to be oriented before delivery, illustrated in FIGS. 2, 8-17, 26, 27, and 28, are shown by way of example to teach how articles which do not have enlarged heads at one end but do have recesses at one end, projections at the end or on aside, or apertures in the body at one end, may be inverted when necessary so that the articles will be in a desired position when delivered.

Articles are delivered to the turntable to check to see if the proper end is in forward position. For example, a screw may be delivered to the turntable headfirst and be rotated end for end so that the end having the point will be delivered from the end device. The turntable may be rotated in a horizontal or a vertical plane or in a plane at an angle therebetween. In some instances, the plungers employed for controlling the delivery of an article to the turntable are omitted, as only one screw or article can enter the turntable at a time and be turned end for end thereby without interfering with the articles or screws being advanced in the .track to the turntable. The driving means for the turntable may have the gear secured to the turntable shaft and operated by a rack from a piston advanced by a flow. of fluid at low pressure which would do no damage in case the turntable prevented the piston from advancing. This stalling arrangement could be employed in place of the slip clutch heretofore described when an article blocks the turntable and prevents it from being turned.

What is claimed is:

1. In an advancing and orienting device, a supporting element, a turntable carried by said supporting element for changing the end to end position of an article if advanced thereto with the rear end in forward position, said element and turntable having aligned slots through which articles are advanced, said element having an aperture communicating with its slot through which only one end of an article may pass when the turntable is rotated, drive means for said turntable, and clutch means within said drive means which permits the turntable to be held stationary by an article advanced thereto in proper position when the drive means is operated thereafter, said drive means being a rack moved longitudinally for rotating a gear secured to said clutch means.

2. In an advancing and orienting device, a supporting element, a turntable carried by said supporting element for changing the end to end position of an article if advanced thereto with the "rear end in forward position, said element and turntable having aligned slots through which articles are advanced, said element having-an aperture communicating with its slot throughwhich only one end of an article may pass when the turntable 'is rotated, drive means for said turntable, and clutch means within said drive means which permits the turntable to be held stationary by an article advanced thereto in proper position when the drive means is operated thereafter, said drive means being a rack moved longitudinally for rotating a gear secured to said clutch means, a track having a slot in which the articles advanced, spring pressed fingers movable inwardly and outwardly of the track slot for controlling the passage of the articles therealong, and cam means carried by the drive means for controlling the movement of said fingers.

3. In an advancing and orienting device, a supporting element, a turntable carried by said supporting element for changing the end to end position of an article if advanced thereto with the rear end in forward position, said element and turntable having "aligned slots through which articles are advanced, said element having an aperture communicating with its slot through which only one end of an article may pass when the turntable is rotated, drive means for said turntable, and clutch means within said drive means which permits the turntable to beheld sta- 10 tionary by an article advanced thereto in proper position when the drive means is operated thereafter, said drive means being a rack moved longitudinally for rotating a gear secured to said clutch means, and means actuated near the end of the forward movement of the rack for adjusting the position of said turntable and the slot therein.

4. In an advancing and orienting device, a supporting element having a slot, a turntable carried by said element having a slot alignable with the slot in said element, means for rotating said turntable for changing the end-to-end position of an article having different end configurations when advanced into said turntable slot, means checking one end of said article when located in said turntable slot for positioning said article with a portion bridging said slots and preventing said turntable from being rotated when the end to be first advanced is in forward position within the turntable slot, said rota-ting means including slip means which permits the rotating means to operate without rotating the turntable when locked by said article, and means for reversing the rotation of said turntable while the rotating means is attempting to continue its rotation.

5. In an advancing and orienting device, a supporting element having a slot, a turntable carried by said element having a slot alignable with the slot in said element, means for rotating said turntable for changing the end-to-end position of an article having different end configurations when advanced into said turn-table slot, means checking one end of said article when located in said turntable slot for positioning said article with a portion bridging said slots and preventing said turntable from being rotated when the end to be first advanced is in forward position within the turntable slot, said rotating means including slip means which permits the rotating means to operate without rotating the turntable when locked by said article, means for reversing the rotation of said turntable while the rotating means is attempting to continue its rotation, and means operated by the rotating means for delivering a single article to the turntable each operation.

6. In an orienting device for checking and delivering articles with the desired forward end in advanced position, an element containing a slot through which the articles are advanced, a turntable supported by said element having a slot aligned with the slot thereof, means for rotating the turntable through slip clutch means for changing the end-to-end position of an article when the rear end thereof .is in forward position, and stop means movable within at least one of said slots for locating the advanced end of an article when in said turntable, and means engaging a portion of said article for preventing the rotation of the turntable and article if the desired forward end is in ad vanced position, and means for reversing the movement of the turn-table near the ned of its attempted rotation for accurately aligning said slots and releasing the engaged article.

7. In an orienting device for checking and delivering articles with the desired forward end in advanced position,

an element containing a slot through which the articles are advanced, a turntable supported by said element having a slot aligned with the slot thereof, means for rotating the turntable through slip clutch means for changing the end-to-end position of an article when the rear end thereof is in forward position, and stop means movable within at least one of said slots for locating the advanced end of an article when in said turntable, means engaging a portion of said article for preventing the rotation of the turntable and article if the desired forward end is in advanced position, and means for reversing the movement of the turntable near the end of its attempted rotation for accurately aligning said slots and releasing the engaged article, and means for retracting said stop means to permit the released article to move from said turntable.

8. Apparatus for delivering in a predetermined, endfor-end orientation a succession of articles, each of which drive means including an operative connection with said means providing said intermediate passageway portion, said drive means being operable to exert intermittently a limited amount of turning force on said means providing said intermediate passageway portion tending to reverse the same end for end,

means operable to stop an article received in said intermediate-passageway portion at a predetermined position longitudinal of said passageway,

means including an abutment on said body providing an obstruction, said obstruction being disposed within the path of turning movement of a portion of an article so positioned and having one endwise orientation but without the path of turning movement of an article having another endwise orientation, and thereby being engageable only with an article having said one orientation,

said obstruction, upon engagement with said portion of an'article having said one endwise orientation, being effective to obstruct turning movement of said article and said means providing said intermediate passageway portion by said drive means under said limited turning force, whereby to prevent reversing of said article end for end,

said turning force being sufiicientso to turn said means providing said intermediate passageway portion when the latter is free of said obstruction.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein said means operable to stop an article received in said intermediate passageway portion is mounted for movement to positions within and without the path of movement of an article in said passageway whereby to release an article previously stopped for movement into said downstream passageway portion, and means operable to move said stop means between said positions thereof ,in timed relation to the intermittent operation of said drive means.

10. In combination with the apparatus defined in claim 8, means operable to introduce a series of said articles having random end-wise orientation into said upstream portion of said passageway, delivery means operable to deliver articles from said series one at a time to said intermediate portion, and actuating means operable to actuate said delivery means in timed relation to the intermittent operation of said drive means.

11. The apparatus defined in claim 10 wherein said means operable to stop an article received in said intermediate passageway portion is mounted for movement to positions within and without the path of movement of an article in said passageway, whereby to release an article previously stopped for movement into said downstream passageway portion, said actuating means being operable to move said stop means between said positions thereof in timed relationto the intermittent operation of said drive means.

12. The apparatus defined in claim 11 wherein said delivery means includes finger means movable within said upstream passageway portion for alternate engagement and release of the successive articles in said series,

said stop means including finger means downstream of said delivery means, said actuating means including an operating connection between said drive means and delivery means and stop means so that the sameopera-te substantially in synchronism.

thereof, and means operable responsive to gear-racki induced movement of the 'lattensaid element to engage I 13. The apparatus defined in claim;12 wherein. said operating connection includes cam means moved by said drive means and being in turn operable to move said finger means. a

14. The apparatus defined in claim 13 wherein said drive means includes a gear rack movable alternately in opposite directions, said gear rack being engaged with a gear wheel operably connected to exert said turning force on said means providing said intermediate passageway portion, said cam means being mounted for linear movement in alternate opposite directions responsive to movement of said gear rack. 1

15. The apparatus defined in claim 14 wherein clutch means is operably interposed between said gear wheel and said means providing said intermediate passageway portion, said clutch means being operable to limit said turning force to said limited amount.

16. The apparatus defined ,in claim 8 wherein said means operable to stop an article received in said intermediate passageway portion is positioned and configured to engage the downstream extremity of each article so received, whereby to position each such article at a longitudinal position in said passageway which is independent of the endwise orientation of the article, said obstruction being disposed to one side of said intermediate portion of said passageway.

17. The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein said,

means operable to stop an article received in said intermediate passagewayportion includes a probe facing upstream of said passageway, said probe being positioned and configured to enter one end recess of an article with which said apparatus is adapted to be used and to engage a non-recessed end face of the other end of such article, whereby to stop articles at different predetermined, longitudinal positions in said passageway depending on their endwise orientation, said obstruction being engageable with an article having only one of said longitudinal positions.

18. The apparatus defined in claim 8 and including in addition release means operable .to exert force on said. means providing said intermediate passageway. portion to interengagement of said members, said drive .means. including means operable generally atsaid time of oompletion of said turning force to engage the first-mentioned member against said stop member.

20. The apparatus defined in claim '19 wherein said means providing said intermediate passageway portion is mounted on shafting, the first-mentioned member. comi prising a generally radially outward projection on said shafting engageable with said stop member.

21. The apparatus definedin claim 20 wherein said shafting is turned by a gear. wheel-thereon engaged with a linearly movable gear rack forming a part of said drive means, said release means including an element lying in the pathof movement of said gear rack, the latter-sard element being movable responsive to engagement by sard gear rack during a terminal increment. of movement nal of said passageway wherein the article bridges. the

juncture between said intermediate portion of said passageway and an adjacent passageway portion with one end of the article projecting away from said intermediate portion,

said obstruction being disposed within or without the path of turning movement of said projecting end portion depending upon the endwise orientation of said article.

23. The apparatus defined in claim 22 wherein said means providing said obstruction comprises means defining an aperture configured to pass the projecting end portion of an article in said other endwise orientation but to restrain entry .thereinto of the projecting end portion of an article in said one endwise orientation.

24. The apparatus defined in claim 23 wherein said aperture comprises an arcuate slo-t extending from a location adjacent the upstream end of said downstream passageway portion to the downstream end of said upstream passageway portion.

25. The apparatus defined in claim 24 wherein said aperture is defined by a slot through an insert fastened to said body adjacent the juncture between said intermediate and adjacent passageway portions.

26. The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein said stop means comprises a finger in said passageway having a probe extending therefrom longitudinally upstream of said passageway, said probe being dimensioned and configured to enter end recessing in one end only of an article with which said apparatus is adapted to be used so that said stop means is operable to position articles engaged thereby at one of two positions longitudinal of said passageway depending upon the endwise orientation of the article,

said article being disposed entirely within said intermediate passageway portion in one position so that said intermediate passageway portion is free to rotate and reverse the article end for end,

the article bridging the juncture between said intermediate passageway portion and an adjacent passageway portion in the other endwise orientation thereof with one end of the article projecting away from said intermediate portion into the adjacent passageway portion,

said adjacent passageway portion having wall portions positioned to engage the projecting end portion of an article having said other endwise orientation and thereby providing said obstruction.

27. The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein said stop means is operable to stop an article passing through said passageway within the limits of said intermediate passageway portion, said article having adjacent one end portion only a portion which projects out of said passageway, said obstruction comprising an element on said body disposed adjacent the portion of said passageway from which said portion of said article projects.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,210,237 12/1916 Walker et a1 221-243 X 1,668,787 5/1928 Stickler 221-173 1,739,982 12/1929 Morin 221-20 X 2,433,561 12/1947 Angell 221-167 2,606,359 8/1952 Stadthaus 221-225 X 2,630,221 3/1953 Stewart 221-158 2,829,782 4/1958 Roeber 198-334 X 2,845,164 7/1958 Stahl 221-173 X 2,889,960 6/1959 Brancato et al. 221-237 X 2,961,080 11/1960 Smith 193-43 2,997,202 8/1961 Madeux 221-173 X 3,035,681 5/1962 Bennett 221-173 X ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

K. N. LEIMER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN ADVANCING AND ORIENTING DEVICE, A SUPPORTING ELEMENT, A TURNTABLE CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORTING ELEMENT FOR CHANGING THE END OF END POSITION OF AN ARTICLE IF ADVANCED THERETO WITH THE REAR END IN FORWARD POSITION, SAID ELEMENT AND TURNABLE HAVING ALIGNED SLOTS THROUGH WHICH ARTICLES ARE ADVANCED, SAID ELEMENT HAVING AN APERTURE COMMUNICATING WITH ITS SLOT THROUGH WHICH ONLY ONE END OF AN ARTICLE MAY PASS WHEN THE TURNTABLE IS ROTATED, DRIVE MEANS FOR SAID TURNTABLE, AND CLUTCH MEANS WITHIN SAID DRIVE MEANS WHICH PERMITS THE TURNTABLE TO BE HELD STATIONARY BY AN ARTICLE ADVANCED THERETO IN PROPER POSITION WHEN THE DRIVE MEANS IS OPERATED THEREAFTER, SAID DRIVE MEANS BEING A RACK MOVED LONGITUDINALLY FOR ROTATING A GEAR SECURED TO SAID CLUTCH MEANS. 